Good posts in this thread.

For those who choose or are able to use option #1, the aux. input method, you do have more control, in that you can select music via song title, album, artist, or genre. You also have control over your playlists, and may create your own smart playlists based on these or other criteria, such as the rating you may have assigned to a group of songs (*, **, ***, etc.). Nothing is displayed in the MID, however.

EDIT: You can control the volume, but not the track selection, via the steering wheel controls when using the aux. input method.

My iPod setup.

ok, so that said. what can i do for a 2001 model then? what are my options? which is the BEST option? thanks guys.

Check out Dension's ICE-LINK PLUS website for more info

http://www.densionusa.com/x/index.ph...407&Itemid=109

As stated above, my vote would be for this - http://www.xoutpost.com/icelinkplus.htm

Put a yellow sticky on your radio and remind yourself to press RND button. :confused:

I agree with earlier posts that discourage the FM modulator. My wife uses i-Trip w/ her iPod Mini when driving her Pacifica. Now, she enjoys her iPod, but when she rides with me in the X, we notice a dramatic difference in the sound quality using my combination of the Aux input w/ the Belkin cable.

At first, I connected my iPod to the Aux input using the headphone jack. If I remember correctly, the volume adjustment required both adjusting the volume on the iPod AND the volume on the BMW stereo. Also, the sound seemed low (but this may because I didn't find the right balance between the two units). However, the Belkin cable connects to the iPod dock connector to charge the iPod and to provide a line out. Now I connect using the line out on the Belkin cable to the Auxiliary input (I need to do a better job hiding my cables, though). Now, the only volume I adjust are the steering wheel controls and I think there is a huge improvement in overall sound quality.

Oh yeah, I usually leave my 20GB iPod on shuffle. With 4800 songs, I'm enjoy hearing songs I haven't heard in a long time.

I could not live with out my 4g 20gig iPod. Right now I am using the DLO TransPod FM tuner. I simply love it. I tune it to 101.1 FM and I swear some tracks sound better than my real cd's. Plus it comes with a nice arm that is adjustable. You can make it longer or shorter. It also charges. I just wish I did not need to turn the iPod off everytime I get out of the X5. I picked it up from Comp USA for $79 bucks I think. Well woth it.

Here is a link and pics.
DLO TransPod FM Tuner

New IPod Mini FM Modulator that works!
 

I just got an IPod mini and a Belkin TuneBase FM for iPod mini. $49 at Belkin. It sounds very good, and a lot cheaper than getting it wired or a 6 disk changer. It also has a flexible-steel neck that holds the IPod up in the air.

Details

Play your iPod mini through your car's stereo wirelessly — and charge it, too! TuneBase™ FM plugs into your vehicle's DC power socket and your iPod mini mounts to the end of its flexible-steel neck — conveniently at hand for safe use while driving.

Its built-in transmitter wirelessly connects to the car's sound system via multiple FM channels (from 88.1 to 107.9 MHz) and features an LCD for easily finding the optimal frequency by scanning or with four presets. Measures 11" long. Three-year warranty.

$49.99 at Belkin
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...uct_ID=186770#


http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/ca...21933/pcatid=2

Kevin Basso
2001 X5 3.0i

Great reference by UCrewX5 response. Option 5 seems attractive @ $120. It seems to mimic the IceLink from what I'm reading @ $80 less. Call me ignorant but what does 6 playlists mean? can you only hear your Ipod if you select (in the case of a CD changer) CD #6? Does each playlist 1-6 mimic CD 1-6 if you had a changer attached? Once you select playlist 1, 2, or ... will it play enerything under that list or can you still control (from the Ipod probably) which song to play? Sorry, I don't have an IPod so I'm not that familiar! Great thread ike301. Thx

Mimic is quite an understatement, the USA Spec more or less mimics the iPod kit from BMW. There are quite a few differences:

1. The USA Spec and BMW kits only offer 6 playlists, the ice>Link offers unlimited playlists, all controllable from the steering wheel or radio.

2. ID3 text on the radio/NAV screen - only the ice>Link Plus is going to offer this. Peroid.

3. Charging Control - ice>Link Plus offers 3 modes of charging control: Charge while in play, Never charge, or charge when connected and up for 2 hours after ignition is turned off.

4. Gain control - ice>Link Plus offers 4 adjustable gain settings, USA Spec and the BMW Kit do not offer this option.

5. Navigation-vehicles - If your X5 has navigation, neither the USA Spec or BMW kits are applicable. You have to go with the ice>Link Plus kit.

One option I do like about the USA Spec kit is that it can skip songs in groups of 10. That's it.

The comparison list can go on, it depends on what you want and what your budget allows. A $120 kit such as the kit from BMW or the USA Spec kit will offer less features than the ice>Link, and I would expect less features to reflect a lesser price as well.

The ice>link simply offers more, simply ask anyone on the forum with the ice>Link Plus :D